Would you like to make the world a better place? The simple answer is to pay attention to what you do. It becomes more complex when you try to gauge the impact of each of your choices.

For example, we are sometimes asked when we go to the grocery store: "Paper or plastic?" Since paper bags are made from a renewable resource and plastic bags are not, paper seems the better way to go.

Now for the uncomfortable truth: It takes more than four times as much energy to manufacture a paper bag than it does to manufacture a plastic bag. And to make matters worse, it takes 91% less energy to recycle a pound of plastic than it takes to recycle a pound of paper.

Okay, so I'll start using plastic bags! But wait, plastic is made from a nonrenewable resource (dinosaurs that have been dead for millions of years). And plastic bags don’t biodegrade, they photodegrade - breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic bits that contaminate soil and waterways. Uh-oh. What is in the soil and water ends up in the food we eat. Gasp! Does this mean I will have to give up shopping? How does one survive in the 21st century in the United States without shopping? That's another issue. Let's get back to the bags.

Paper or plastic? Neither! There is a simple, convenient, money-saving, environment-saving answer: reusable bags. Sturdy, washable cloth bags. Thanks to Amanda, we know of a local source: Brookshire's are selling cloth shopping bags (with handles ... and their logo) for a dollar. And we've always been able to buy canvas bags at craft stores. (You don't actually have to decorate them. Really!)

If you want more choices, you can go online and find dozens of vendors. One site is reusablebags.com. If you want to avoid shipping charges, co-order with Amanda through Beautiful World Buying Group. (Questions? Contact Amanda at 903--291-8203 or amtx2301@yahoo.com)

Melissa Bowen

Sunday, June 9th was a great day for sharing our favorite books. Ruth Semrau, a local librarian, led the service she aptly scheduled just in time for our summer reading. Her first suggestion was a set of graphic novels called Fables: Legends in Exile. She described the series as a collection of "breathtaking artwork" that chronicle fairy tale characters who are forced to live in exile in New York City.

Jo Porterfield suggested a few great stories: A Perfect Union, a biography of Dolly Madison; Madame Secretary, Madeleine Albright's memoir about her life and tenure through turbulent times as President Clinton's U.N. ambassador and then secretary of State; The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins; Letter to a Christian Nation, a non-fiction book by Sam Harris, written in

Tina Rushing shared one of her favorites, The Book of Bright Ideas by Sandra Kring. Tina dubbed this novel, set in 1961 about traditional and unconventional families, a great "chick book."

Tom Mitchell suggested a few great reads as well: Oxford Dictionary of Quotations; Great Thoughts by George Seldes; and How We Got the Bible by Neil R. Lightfoot.

Linda Smith mentioned Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, an autobiography of a Somalian refugee from a fundamentalist Muslim clan.

Ryan Adams, in his love for satire, suggested Good Omens by Terry Pratchett.

Marolen Mullinax suggested so many books so quickly that this reporter was unable to write them all down (I am only human): A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving; A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin; Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini; Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry are the ones I was able to capture.

Melissa Bowen suggested The Jesus Papers, a follow up to Holy Blood Holy Grail, a must for anyone with a thirst for controversy.

Ruth finished up the service by suggesting anything written by Lloyd Alexander.

It looks like the UUFL has a busy summer ahead!

Repoter’s note: Please notify the editor if anything has been left out or reported in error. All books mentioned can be purchased through Amazon.com.